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Meetings &
Upcoming Events
We
meet one Sunday a month from 2 PM to 5 PM alternating between our Nassau and Suffolk
meeting locations.
What can you expect when you
attend a PFLAG Meeting?
PFLAG is all about Support, Education, and Advocacy. For people attending their first meeting,
it is all about Support.
You will meet parents or family members
of loved ones who have recently "come out" to them as well as
others who have been members for many years and have gone through much of
what you are just beginning to experience.
For some parents, this news is very
difficult to deal with. Most of us
have never had anyone tell us they have a gay child and many just do not know
what to do with this information.
While some people find this news quite distressing; they may be angry
or hurt, others are readily accepting, but all have questions. There is a lot to learn and PFLAG is the
place to ask questions in a safe environment.
All that takes place during our meetings is treated as
confidential.
PFLAG
is where we share our experiences in small groups and support each other as
we go through the process of learning, accepting and celebrating our
families. We represent many social,
political, and religious backgrounds but are neither a religious nor a
political group.
We
meet to engage in discussion in informal, confidential rap groups led by
trained facilitators where we support and encourage one another as we seek to
keep families in loving relationships after learning that a family member is
gay.
Our
meetings are not group therapy, seminars, or workshops. No one is called upon or expected to speak
until they are comfortable doing so.
We know that listening is often all a new participant can do and when
they are ready to talk, they are given all the time and attention they
need. We do not probe or question ones
feelings as we know that all feelings are valid. People share as much or as little as they
are comfortable with, often opening up as time goes on.
PFLAG is the place to come where you
know you will receive a positive reaction when you say “My son is gay” or “My
daughter is a lesbian”, or “I am gay”.
For many, PFLAG is the place where those words are first uttered in
public and here they are greeted with a smile.
Newcomers are often greeted with such
warmth and support that they are able to articulate for the first time all
the disturbing thoughts and fears they have been harboring since their loved
ones came out to them. They benefit
from the experience of members who are further along in the process of
learning, understanding, and accepting as they learn facts they belie
stereotypes and the negativity put forth by the mean-spirited seeking to
marginalize our children. They receive
reassurance (that our children are happy and healthy living wonderful lives
with their life partners), information, and guidance as to how to deal with
others who may be less enlightened.
Newcomers hear the ease with which members say “I have a gay child”
and then learn that not too long ago they, too, were newcomers with the same
emotions and fears that have been overcome.
We meet to discuss the political
and social environment that affects our LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and
Transgender) loved ones and learn how we can work to advocate for their equal
civil rights. We enjoy the camaraderie
of other families with gay members and of our gay PFLAG members while we
socialize, laugh, smile, share family photos, enjoy refreshments, and become
educated by guest speakers.
We have a free lending library from
which members are encouraged to borrow books and videos to help in the
education process. Borders, Barnes and
Noble as well as your public library are great sources for literature
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Upcoming
Events
See below for address and
directions for upcoming meetings.
The most important part of each
meeting is the support group portion of the meeting when we meet in small
groups lead by trained facilitators and can ask questions, voice concerns,
and share experiences. Each
meeting also provides opportunity
for socializing, listening to a speaker, and enjoying refreshments
On June 8th we marched in the Huntington Pride Parade as we have every year since it
began. Our participation is
particularly important and makes a great impact on the LGBT community on Long Island.
On June 29th we will march
with the NYC PFLAG Chapter at the head of the NYC Heritage of Pride Parade. This is very exciting and a great honor.
This year marks the
35th anniversary of the founding of PFLAG NYC in March 1973. As you may know, PFLAG's
founding is closely linked to New York's Pride March, since it was Jeanne Manford's marching in the 1972 Christopher Street Gay
Liberation Day Parade in 1972 that led parents to come together to form our
organization the next year.
To commemorate
this important anniversary and to celebrate parents and families who love
their LGBT children, the NYC Chapter
of PFLAG has been chosen by the Heritage of Pride leadership to be Honorary Grand Marshals of the 2008
Pride March, and has invited us to join them and help them celebrate their
anniversary at the head of the parade.
We have always
been happy and proud to march together in the impressive PFLAG contingent
in the Pride March and look forward to your marching with us this
year. We would love to make this
year's PFLAG group the largest ever.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if, across the country, as they watch the
evening news on television, people could see a large contingent of ordinary
moms and dads who look just like themselves marching out front in support
of their LGBT family members? The
loud cheers from the crowd that have always greeted our appearance in past
marches would be an eye-opener to people everywhere.
We have the
opportunity to show our love and pride in large numbers. It
is our hope that you join us and bring as many marchers as you can to march
with us in this year's Pride Parade.
The visual impact to people everywhere would be powerful.
The NYC Chapter is
working on some ideas and seeking sponsors to allow all the PFLAG chapters
to have some unifying element in the March this year and will keep in touch
with us as their plans develop. I hope you will
join us.
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Calendar of Meetings
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Month
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Nassau
Sid
Jacobson Jewish Community Center,
300 Forest Dr., East
Hills
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Suffolk
Suffolk JCC
74 Hauppauge Rd
Commack
NY 11725
631-462-9800
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2008
July
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July 13
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August
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No scheduled meeting
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No scheduled meeting
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September
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September 14
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October
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October 19
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November
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November 16
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December
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December 14
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2009
January
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January 11
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February
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February 8
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March
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March 15
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April
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April 19
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May
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May 17
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In June we do not
meet. We march in both the Long
Island Pride Parade in Huntington and the New York City Heritage of Pride
Parade. Amazing and affirming
experiences always!
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Other
Related Meetings and/or Events
Board Meeting:
Date to be announced
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Directions
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To Sid Jacobson JCC
300 Forest Dr
East Hills NY
516-484-1545
From New York City:
Long Island
Expressway to Exit 37, Willis/Mineola
Ave.
- Turn
left at the traffic light (Mineola
Ave.) proceed approximately 1 ½ miles to
Northern Blvd./25A (Exxon Station on corner).
- Turn
right onto Northern Blvd. Proceed over viaduct about ½ mile to Forest Drive
(1st traffic light/East Hills Chrysler-Plymouth on corner).
- Turn
right onto Forest Drive
and bear left around the bend to the JCC.
Northern State Parkway
to Exit 28N, Willis Ave. North.
- Turn
right onto Willis Ave.
and travel approximately ½ miles to Northern Blvd./25A. (Follow
directions above).
See
A Map
From Eastern Long Island:
Long Island Expressway
to Exit 39N, Glen Cove Road.
- Turn
right at traffic light onto Glen
Cove Rd.
- Proceed
approximately 2 miles to Northern
Blvd./25A.
- Turn
left onto Northern Blvd.
- At
the second traffic light turn left onto Forest Drive (East Hills
Chrysler-Plymouth on corner) and bear left around the bend to the JCC.
Northern State Parkway
to Exit 31N, Glen Cove Rd.
· Turn left at traffic light onto Glen Cove Rd. (heading north).
· Proceed approximately 3 miles to Northern Blvd./25A. (Follow Directions
above).
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To The Suffolk
JCC in Commack
74 Hauppauge Road
Commack NY
11725
631-462-9800
- Take Southern State Parkway North
to Seaford-Oyster Bay Expresseay
(Rte 135) to Northern State
Parkway or the Long
Island Expressway.
Then either:
- Take Northern State Parkway to
exit 43 (Commack Road),
go left at the traffic light, north on Commack Road for 4 lights to Hauppauge Road. Make a left at the traffic
light.
The Suffolk Y JCC is ¼ mile on the right.
Or:
- Take LIE traveling East to
exit 52 north (Commack
Road).
Go north on Commack road for 8
lights to Hauppauge Road
as above.
Or
- Take LIE traveling West to
exit 53 north (Commack Road). Go north on Commack
road for 8 lights to Hauppauge
Road as above.
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